Luke 19:41-44: “And when Jesus drew nigh He saw the city, and wept over it, saying, If thou hadst known in this day, even thou, the things which belong unto peace! . . . but, thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.” When conditions have reached their worst men are aroused from their sinful lethargy, by dint of conscious, sheer necessity, to call upon their God. This has transpired with us, and, as a consequence, in answer to our earnest and persistent cries for help, our God has come. We need Him.

Opportunity once passed, is lost forever. There is a time when the tide is sweeping by our door, we may plunge in and be carried to glorious success and blessing and victory. To stand on the bank shivering from timidity, or paralyzed by stupor, at such a time, is to miss all, and most miserably and eternally fail. Oh, our responsibility!

The mighty tide of God’s grace and favor even now is sweeping by us, in its prayer directed course. There is a river (of salvation) the streams whereof make glad the City of God. – Psalm 46:4; 65:9.

It is time for us to “get’ together,” plunge in, individually, and collectively.

“The letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life.” We are baptized by one Spirit into one Body. – 1 Cor. 12:13.

Let us lay aside all “carnal” contentions, forget our petty, cursed differences, that separate us from each other, and from God.

If we are of His body, we are “one body.”

The opportunity of lifetime, of centuries, is at our door, to be eternally gained, or lost. There is no time to hesitate; act quickly, lest another take thy crown, and thou be covered with eternal loss and shame.

Oh, Church of Christ, awake! Put on thy wedding garments. A helpless world lies bleeding at thy feet. To the rescue! as at Earthquake shock.

First, be baptized, thyself, with power. Then fly to rescue others.

F. BARTLEMAN, Los Angeles, Cal. Tract written June, 1906.